Remembering George Voinovich

Statement from Environmental Defense Fund

NEWS RELEASE

“George Voinovich – a mayor, governor, and senator – died this past Sunday morning. His pragmatism, bipartisanship, and commitment to Ohio’s environment will be missed. 

“The Ohio Republican demonstrated long-standing leadership on several key issues, particularly Great Lakes protection and restoration and the Diesel Emission Reduction Act. 

“As the mayor of Cleveland, Voinovich appreciated the beauty and tremendous value of Lake Erie and the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. As Ohio’s governor and its U.S. senator, he advanced numerous measures to ensure those waters were not diverted and that pollution into the Lakes was reduced. 

“Voinovich also worked to reduce emissions substantially from trucks, buses, trains, and boats. His efforts on the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act demonstrated how American technology could reduce pollution and increase economic development.

“In these efforts, Senator Voinovich regularly reached across the aisle and highlighted how environmental protection needed a bipartisan effort that would improve public health, spur private-sector investment, create jobs, and preserve key ecosystems.”

-Elizabeth Thompson, Vice President, US Climate & Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund

With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org